Romans 6:15-23 - True freedom and slavery

Here we must take care, as Paul did, not to make grace an excuse to continue to sin. He emphatically said grace is given to us not to go on sinning. It is clear that, either to be obedient to the principle of sin that leads to death or be obedient to the principle that leads to righteousness, is a choice. In Romans 6:15-23, we are told vividly that as believers, we are free from the slavery of sin. Therefore believers are no longer under the power of sin but have the liberty to choose not to succumb to the tendency to sin.

In verse 16, we see a very fundamental principle concerning choices in life. It tells us that whatever we choose to obey, one will become slave to it. If the choice is to serve sin and submit to it, one becomes a slave of sin. This would lead to death. On the other hand, if one makes serving God the choice, he will become a slave of God, that would result in righteousness.

The unsaved do not have any choice; they are by nature slaves of sin. But for believers, who turned to God by faith in Christ and accepted the Gospel, they shall be free from being servants to sin, and to be servants of God. However, the believers’ liberty is only in their choice to either be slaves to sin or servants to God.

In these verses, Paul shows the two kinds of servitude and the result of each. That is, we can either be a slave to God or be a slave to sin. The slavery to sin produces unrighteousness and shame. However, slavery to God produces the fruit of righteousness and sanctification.

To continue living in sin would be contradicting our position in Christ. When we become slaves of sin, we would only be accomplishing shameful unrighteousness, and taking a path that ends in death. Believers, however, must make sanctification their motive. They should resolve to leave the life of sin and offer their bodies to God to live out His righteousness. Paul tells us that the choice to serve God is the logical choice. For the wages we get for serving sin would be death. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. 

As one advertisement puts it: the choice is clear! Paul had made it clear that the wise option is to serve God and righteousness. Our spiritual life is a result of our oneness with Christ. But the fullness of that life with Him comes when we choose to obey Him. Obedience releases the power of God in our lives. God will do great and wondrous things in and through a life that’s obedient to Him.